Lamborghini[a] (officiallyAutomobili Lamborghini S.p.A. and colloquiallyLambo) is an Italian manufacturer of luxurysports cars andSUVs based inSant'Agata Bolognese. The company is owned by theVolkswagen Group through its subsidiaryAudi.
Ferruccio Lamborghini (1916–1993), an Italianmanufacturing magnate, founded Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini S.p.A. in 1963 to compete withFerrari. The company was noted for using arear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. Lamborghini grew rapidly during its first decade, but sales plunged in the wake of the1973 worldwide financial downturn and theoil crisis. The firm's ownership changed three times after 1973, including a bankruptcy in 1978. AmericanChrysler Corporation took control of Lamborghini in 1987 and sold it to Malaysian investment group Mycom Setdco and Indonesian group V'Power Corporation in 1994. In 1998, Mycom Setdco and V'Power sold Lamborghini to the Volkswagen Group where it was placed under the control of the group's Audi division.
New products and model lines were introduced to the brand's portfolio and brought to the market and saw an increased productivity for the brand. In the late 2000s, during theGreat Recession, Lamborghini's sales dropped nearly 50%.
Lamborghini Trattori, founded in 1948 by Ferruccio Lamborghini, is headquartered inPieve di Cento, Italy, and continues to producetractors. Since 1973, Lamborghini Trattori has been a separate entity from the Lamborghini's automobile division.
Manufacturing magnate ItalianFerruccio Lamborghini founded the company in 1963 with the objective of producing a refinedgrand touring car to compete with offerings from established marques such asFerrari. The company's first models, such as the350 GT, were released in the mid-1960s. Lamborghini was noted for the 1966Miura sportscoupé, which used arear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout.
In1963, Ferruccio Lamborghini, already an established industrialist who manufactured tractors, boilers, and air conditioners, founded Lamborghini Automobili on May 7, 1963.[5]
The company was headquartered in a purpose-built facility inSant'Agata Bolognese. He surrounded himself with highly capable engineers and technicians:Giotto Bizzarrini designed the engine,Gian Paolo Dallara and Paolo Stanzani developed the chassis, and Franco Scaglione designed the bodywork. The first model, the 350 GTV, was not a success due to its futuristic style and remained a one-off prototype. The project was then handed over to the Milanese coachbuilder Touring, which created a more classic and sober design. The new car, named the 350 GT, was a fast and elegant two-seater grand tourer (according to Ferruccio's standards) and was the first series-produced car by Lamborghini. It achieved moderate sales success and was followed by the 400 GT (which benefited from an increased engine capacity) and the 400 GT 2+2, both presented in 1966.
Lamborghini grew rapidly during its first ten years, but sales fell in the wake of the1973 worldwide financial downturn and theoil crisis. Ferruccio Lamborghini sold the company to Georges-Henri Rossetti and René Leimer and retired in 1974. The company went bankrupt in 1978, and was placed in the receivership of brothers Jean-Claude andPatrick Mimran in 1980. The Mimrans purchased the company out of receivership by 1984 and invested heavily in its expansion. Under the Mimrans' management, Lamborghini's model line was expanded from theCountach to include theJalpa sports car and theLM002 high-performance off-road vehicle.
The Mimrans sold Lamborghini to theChrysler Corporation in 1987. After replacing the Countach with theDiablo and discontinuing the Jalpa and the LM002, Chrysler sold Lamborghini to Malaysian investment group Mycom Setdco and Indonesian group V'Power Corporation in 1994. In 1998, Mycom Setdco and V'Power sold Lamborghini to theVolkswagen Group where it was placed under the control of the group'sAudi division. New products and model lines were introduced to the brand's portfolio and brought to the market and saw an increased productivity for the brand Lamborghini. In the late 2000s, during theGreat Recession, Lamborghini's sales dropped nearly 50%.
In 2021, the CEO of Lamborghini said that by 2024 all its models will be hybrid.[6]
As of the 2018 model year, Lamborghini's automobile product range consists of three model lines, two of which are mid-engine two-seat sports cars while the third one is a front engined, all-wheel drive SUV.[7]
Production of the new Revuelto began in mid-2023 and was delivered in late 2023 as a 2024 model. A 6.5L naturally aspirated V12 engine and three magnetic motors power the car for a combined output of 1,001 hp (1,015 PS). The Revuelto is the successor to the Aventador.[8][9]
Intending to double its sales volume by 2019, Lamborghini also added an SUV named Urus in its line-up which is powered by atwin-turboV8 engine and utilizes a front engine, all-wheel drive layout.[10][11]
Marine engines
Motori Marini Lamborghini produces a large V12 marine engine block for use inWorld Offshore Series Class 1 powerboats. A Lamborghini branded marine engine displaces approximately 8,171 cc (8.2 L) and outputs approximately 940 hp (700 kW).[12]
Lamborghini motorcycle
In the mid-1980s, Lamborghini produced a limited-production run of a 1,000 cc (61.0 cu in)sports motorcycle. UK weekly newspaperMotor Cycle News reported in 1994—when featuring an example available through anEssex motorcycle retailer—that 24 examples were produced with a Lamborghinialloy frame havingadjustable steering head angle,Kawasaki GPz1000RX engine/transmission unit,Cerianifront forks and Marvic wheels. The bodywork wasplastic and fully integrated withfront fairing merged into fuel tank and seat cover ending in a rear tail-fairing. The motorcycles were designed by Lamborghini stylists and produced by French business Boxer Bikes.[13]
Branded merchandise
L900 marine engine
Lamborghini licenses its brand to manufacturers that produce a variety of Lamborghini-branded consumer goods including scale models, clothing, accessories, bags, electronics[14] and laptop computers.[15]
Lamborghini Motorsport Division Squadra Corse produces GT3 cars and cars for theirSuper Trofeo events based on theGallardo andHuracán. Apart from them, the Squadra Corse builds cars upon customer request.
The Super Trofeo is a series of Motorsport events held by Squadra corse using their Super Trofeo model vehicles (currently theHuracán Super Trofeo EVO2) which are racing versions of the road-approved models (Huracán andGallardo models).
The Super Trofeo events are held in three different series, in three continents: America, Asia and Europe. Many private race team participate each of these events.
Every series consists of six rounds, each of which feature free practice sessions, qualifying and two races lasting 50 minutes each. There are four categories of drivers: Pro, Pro-Am, Am and Lamborghini Cup. The season ends in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final.[16]
Lamborghini GT3
Lamborghini Huracán GT3 front view
The Lamborghini GT3 is a series of Motorsport events held by The Squadra Corse usingHuracán GT3 cars that comply with theFIA GT3 regulations. The racing event is open to any Huracán GT3 customer.
Lamborghini currently usesHuracán GT3 Evo 2 cars for these events and more than 60 private race teams participate these events.[17]
The Miura began as a clandestine prototype, a car that had racing pedigree in a company that was entirely against motorsport.
In contrast to his rivalEnzo Ferrari, Ferruccio Lamborghini had decided early on that there would be no factory-supported racing of Lamborghinis, viewing motorsport as too expensive and too draining on company resources.[21] This was unusual for the time, as many sports car manufacturers sought to demonstrate speed, reliability, and technical superiority through motorsport participation. Enzo Ferrari in particular was known for considering his road car business mostly a source of funding for his participation in motor racing. Ferruccio's policy led to tensions between him and his engineers, many of whom were racing enthusiasts; some had previously worked at Ferrari. When Dallara, Stanzani, and Wallace began dedicating their spare time to the development of the P400 prototype, they designed it to be a road car with racing potential, one that could win on the track and also be driven on the road by enthusiasts.[22] When Ferruccio discovered the project, he allowed them to go ahead, seeing it as a potential marketing device for the company, while insisting that it would not be raced. The P400 went on to become the Miura. The closest the company came to building a true race car under Lamborghini's supervision were a few highly modified prototypes, including those built by factory test driverBob Wallace, such as the Miura SV-based "Jota" and the Jarama S-based "Bob Wallace Special".
In the mid-1970s, while Lamborghini was under the management of Georges-Henri Rossetti, Lamborghini entered into an agreement withBMW to develop, then manufacture 400 cars for BMW in order to meetGroup 4homologation requirements. BMW lacked experience developing a mid-engined vehicle and believed that Lamborghini's experience in that area would make Lamborghini an ideal choice of partner. Due to Lamborghini's shaky finances, Lamborghini fell behind schedule developing the car's structure and running gear. When Lamborghini failed to deliver working prototypes on time, BMW took the program in house, finishing development without Lamborghini. BMW contracted withBaur to produce the car, which BMW named theM1, delivering the first vehicle in October 1978.[23][24]
In 1985, Lamborghini's British importer developed theCountach QVX, in conjunction withSpice Engineering, for the 1986Group C championship season. One car was built, but lack of sponsorship caused it to miss the season. The QVX competed in only one race, the non-championship 1986 Southern Suns 500 km race atKyalami in South Africa, driven byTiff Needell. Despite the car finishing better than it started, sponsorship could once again not be found and the programme was cancelled.[25]
The 1990Lotus 102 featured a Lamborghini V12 engine.
Lamborghini was an engine supplier inFormula One for the1989 through1993 Formula One seasons. It supplied engines toLarrousse (1989–1990, 1992–1993),Lotus (1990),Ligier (1991),Minardi (1992), and to theModena team in 1991. While the latter is commonly referred to as a factory team, the company saw itself as a supplier, not a backer. The 1992 Larrousse—Lamborghini was largely uncompetitive but noteworthy in its tendency to spew oil from its exhaust system. Cars following closely behind the Larrousse were commonly coloured yellowish-brown by the end of the race.[26] Lamborghini's best result was achieved with Larrousse at the1990 Japanese Grand Prix, whenAguri Suzuki finished third on home soil.[27]
In 1991, a Lamborghini Formula One motor was used in theKonrad KM-011Group C sports car, but the car only lasted a few races before the project was cancelled. The same engine, re-badged aChrysler, Lamborghini's then-parent company, was tested byMcLaren towards the end of the 1993 season, with the intent of using it during the1994 season. Although driverAyrton Senna was reportedly impressed with the engine's performance, McLaren pulled out of negotiations, choosing aPeugeot engine instead, and Chrysler ended the project.
A Murciélago R-GT participating in the FIA GT Championship atSilverstone in 2006
Two racing versions of the Diablo were built for the Diablo Supertrophy, a single-model racing series held annually from 1996 to 1999. In the first year, the model used in the series was the Diablo SVR, while the Diablo 6.0 GTR was used for the remaining three years.[28][29] Lamborghini developed the Murciélago R-GT as a production racing car to compete in theFIA GT Championship, theSuper GT Championship and theAmerican Le Mans Series in 2004. The car's highest placing in any race that year was the opening round of the FIA GT Championship atValencia, where the car entered byReiter Engineering finished third from a fifth-place start.[30][31] In 2006, during the opening round of the Super GT championship atSuzuka, a car run by the Japan Lamborghini Owners Club garnered the first victory (in class) by an R-GT. AGT3 version of the Gallardo has been developed byReiter Engineering.[32] A Murciélago R-GT entered by All-Inkl.com racing, driven byChristophe Bouchut and Stefan Mücke, won the opening round of theFIA GT Championship held atZhuhai International Circuit, achieving the first major international race victory for Lamborghini.[33]
The Lamborghini wordmark, as displayed on the back of its cars
The world ofbullfighting is a key part of Lamborghini's identity.[34][35][36] In 1962, Ferruccio Lamborghini visited the Seville ranch ofDon Eduardo Miura, a renowned breeder ofSpanish fighting bulls. Lamborghini was so impressed by the majestic Miura animals that he decided to adopt a ragingbull as theemblem for the automaker he would open shortly.[37]
Vehicle nomenclature
After producing two cars with alphanumeric designations, Lamborghini once again turned to the bull breeder for inspiration. Don Eduardo was filled with pride when he learned that Ferruccio had named a car for his family and their line of bulls; the fourth Miura to be produced was unveiled to him at his ranch in Seville.[37][38]
The automaker would continue to draw upon the bullfighting connection in future years. TheIslero was named for theMiura bull that killed the famedbullfighterManolete in 1947.Espada is the Spanish word forsword, sometimes used to refer to the bullfighter himself. The Jarama's name carried a special double meaning; though it was intended to refer only to the historic bullfighting region in Spain, Ferruccio was concerned about confusion with the also historicJarama motor racing track.[39]
The Diablo (background) was named for a legendary bull, while the Countach (foreground) broke from the bullfighting tradition.
After christening theUrraco after a bull breed, in 1974, Lamborghini broke from tradition, naming theCountach (/ˈkuːntɑːʃ/ⓘKOON-tahsh) not for a bull,[40] but forcontacc (pronounced[kʊŋˈtɑtʃ]), aPiedmontese expletive.[40] Legend has it thatNuccio Bertone uttered the word in surprise when he first saw the Countach prototype, "Project 112".[41] The LM002 (LM for Lamborghini Militaire) sport utility vehicle and the Silhouette (named after the popular racing category of the time) were other exceptions to the tradition.
The Jalpa of 1982 was named for a bull breed; Diablo, for theDuke of Veragua's ferocious bull famous for fighting an epic battle against El Chicorro in Madrid in 1869;[42][43][44]Murciélago, the legendary bull whose life was spared by El Lagartijo for his performance in 1879; Gallardo, named for one of the five ancestral castes of the Spanish fighting bull breed;[45] and Reventón, the bull that defeated young Mexicantorero Félix Guzmán in 1943. TheEstoque concept of 2008 was named for theestoc, the sword traditionally used by matadors during bullfights.[46]
Throughout its history, Lamborghini has envisioned and presented a variety ofconcept cars, beginning in 1963 with the first Lamborghini prototype, the350GTV. Other famous models include Bertone's 1967Marzal, 1974Bravo, and 1980Athon, Chrysler's 1987Portofino, theItaldesign-styledCala from 1995, theZagato-builtRaptor from 1996.
A retro-styledLamborghini Miura concept car, the first creation of chief designer Walter de'Silva, was presented in 2006. President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann denied that the concept would be put into production, saying that the Miura concept was "a celebration of our history, but Lamborghini is about the future. Retro design is not what we are here for. So we won't do the [new] Miura."[47]
At the2008 Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini revealed theEstoque, a four-doorsedan concept. Although there had been much speculation regarding the Estoque's eventual production,[48][49] Lamborghini management has not made a decision regarding production of what might be the first four-door car to roll out of the Sant'Agata factory.[50]
At the2010 Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini unveiled theSesto Elemento. The concept car is made almost entirely of carbon fibre making it extremely light, with a weight of 999 kg (2,202 lb). The Sesto Elemento shares the same V10 engine found in the Lamborghini Gallardo. Lamborghini hopes to signal a shift in the company's direction from making super cars focused on top speed to producing more agile, track focused cars with the Sesto Elemento. The concept car can reach 0–62 mph (0–100 km/h) in 2.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of over 180 mph (290 km/h).[51]
At the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini unveiled the Aventador J—a roofless, windowless version of theLamborghini Aventador. The Aventador J uses the same 700 hp engine and seven-speed transmission as the standard Aventador.[52]
At the 2012 Beijing Motor Show, Lamborghini unveiled theUrus SUV. This is the first SUV built by Lamborghini since the LM002.
As part of the celebration of 50 years of Lamborghini, the company created theEgoista.Egoista is for one person's driving and only one Egoista is to be made.[53]
At the2014 Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini unveiled the Asterion LPI910-4 hybrid concept car. Named after the half-man, half-bull hybrid (Minotaur) of Greek legend, it is the first hybrid Lamborghini in the history of the company. Utilizing the Huracán's 5.2 litre V10 producing 607 hp (453 kW; 615 PS), along with one electric motor mounted on the transaxle and an additional two on the front axle, developing an additional 300 hp (224 kW; 304 PS). This puts the power at a combined figure of 907 hp (676 kW; 920 PS). The 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) time is claimed to be just above 3 seconds, with a claimed top speed of 185 mph (298 km/h).[54]
Corporate affairs
Structure
As of 2011[update], Lamborghini is structured as a wholly owned subsidiary ofAudi AG named Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.[Notes 1][55]
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. controls five principal subsidiaries:Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A., a manufacturer of motorcycles;Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A., a design and prototyping firm that provides services to the entire Volkswagen Group; MML S.p.A. (Motori Marini Lamborghini), a manufacturer of marine engine blocks; and Volkswagen Group Italia S.p.A. (formerly Autogerma S.p.A.), which sells Audi and other Volkswagen Group vehicles in Italy.[55][56]
The Lamborghini headquarters and main production site is located inSant'Agata Bolognese, Italy. With the launch of its UrusSUV, the production site expanded from 80,000 m2 (8.0 ha) to 160,000 m2 (16 ha).[57]
On 13 November 2020,Stephan Winkelmann, current President ofBugatti, was appointed to be the newCEO of Lamborghini. He took his new position on 1 December 2020.[1]
By sales, the most important markets in 2004 for Lamborghini's sports cars were the U.S. (41%), Germany (13%), Great Britain (9%) and Japan (8%). Prior to the launch of the Gallardo in 2003, Lamborghini produced approximately 400 vehicles per year; in 2011 Lamborghini produced 1,711 vehicles.[58]
Automóviles Lamborghini LatinoaméricaS.A. de C.V. (Lamborghini Automobiles of Latin America Public Limited Company) is an authorized distributor and manufacturer of Lamborghini-branded vehicles and merchandise in Latin America and South America.[87]
In 1995, Indonesian corporation MegaTech, Lamborghini's owner at the time, entered into distribution and license agreements with Mexican businessman Jorge Antonio Fernández García. The agreements give Automóviles Lamborghini Latinoamérica S.A. de C.V. the exclusive distributorship of Lamborghini vehicles and branded merchandise in Latin America and South America. Under the agreements, Automóviles Lamborghini is also allowed to manufacture Lamborghini vehicles and market them worldwide under the Lamborghini brand.[87]
Automóviles Lamborghini has produced two rebodied versions of theDiablo called the Eros and the Coatl. In 2015, Automóviles Lamborghini transferred the IP-rights to the Coatl foundation (chamber of commerce no. 63393700) in The Netherlands in order to secure these rights and to make them more marketable.[88] The company has announced the production of a speedboat called the Lamborghini Glamour.[89]
Museums
There are two museums inBologna, Emilia-Romagna, centered around the brand.
This two-storey museum is attached to the headquarters, and covers the history of Lamborghini cars and sport utility vehicles, showcasing a variety of modern and vintage models. The museum uses displays of cars, engines and photos to provide a history and review important milestones of Lamborghini.
A 9,000 square-foot museum about Ferruccio Lamborghini houses several cars, industrial prototypes, sketches, personal objects and family photos from Ferruccio's early life.[90]
^According to Audi AG's 2011 Annual Financial Report, on 1 July 2011, Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., Lamborghini AntiMarca S.p.A. and STAR Design S.R.L. were merged into Automobili Lamborghini Holding S.p.A., which was renamed Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (S.p.A. stands forSocietà per Azioni, the Italian designation for ajoint stock company. S.R.L. stands for Società a Responsabilità Limitata, the Italian designation for aprivate limited company).
^"Car-vaceous Lamborghini up for sale".Motor Cycle News. 23 March 1994. p. 5.
^"Terms and Conditions".Lamborghini Store. EPI srl. Archived fromthe original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved4 August 2012.EPI srl is an official licensee of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
^"Lamborghini Reports Record Figures".carpages.co.uk. 21 February 2004.Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved3 August 2012.In 1996, Automobili Lamborghini sold a total of 211 cars worldwide.
"Principales cláusulas de los contratos con USA e Italia" [Main Contract Terms between USA and Italy].lamborghini-latinoamerica.com (in Spanish). Automóviles Lamborghini Latinoamérica S.A. de C.V. 5 August 1995. Archived fromthe original(JPG) on 2 October 2013. Retrieved2 August 2012.
"Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Facts and Figures 2012"(PDF). Volkswagen AG. 11 June 2012. 1058.809.453.20. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 2 October 2013. Retrieved10 August 2012.Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (867 employees, founded in 1963, wholly owned by Audi AG since 1998)
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related toLamborghini.
.svg){kind=logo}
.jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.jpg)
_(52228506984).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg)
_003.jpg)
